Favorite Schools

Favorite Teams

Murphy powers WW-P North to victory in boys' golf against Lawrence

Kevin murphy

Kevin Murphy of West Windsor-Plainsboro North hits on green during a 2011 match. Today against Lawrence, Murphy shot a 39 on the course, leading the Knights to a 202, 222 victory.
(Martin Griff/The Times)

WEST WINDSOR — Cory Zrinko and Kevin Murphy played in the first foursome today on the Mercer Oaks East course, as West Windsor-Plainsboro North hosted Lawrence.

Murphy, who shot a 39 on the course today, led the Knights to a 202, 222 victory against the Cardinals.

Performing the best of all the golfers on the course, Zrinko carded a 38.

“I try to be as competitive as possible,” Zrinko said. “Also, mental toughness helps a lot out here on the golf course.”

As the No. 1s for their respective schools, Zrinko and Murphy are usually matched up in the same group as the top golfers from whichever school they play.

But the similarities run deeper for the two.

Both excel in other sports as well. Zrinko was a standout forward as part of the hockey team for the two-time division champion Cardinals, and Murphy lit up the skies as the Knights quarterback.

“Golf is so much different than football or basketball,” Murphy said. “It is about keeping a competitive mind-set when you are in a match.

“And like Cory said, a lot of this game has to do with being mentally strong.”

It is no coincidence that both teams made the state tournament this season.

Lawrence’s path to qualification coincided with Zrinko’s run of good form, in which his average score went from the low 40s to the mid-to-high 30s, and when the Cardinals needed three wins in three matches to qualify, Zrinko was at his best.

“It is nice to play well individually,” Zrinko said. “But it is always nice to have all of your teammates around when the team is playing well.”

Murphy has been the steadiest of all Knight golfers. While others on the squad have shot lower numbers, he has been constant on the scorecard, with rounds between 36 to 40 all season, even during a mid-season slump.

“I have the luxury of playing on a team where anyone can be the No. 1 on any given day,” Murphy said. “It’s great. I started out the season pretty well, then I was in a slump.

“Then guys like Ben Perrine and Zack Everett, in the South and Hopewell matches, they really picked me — and the team up. So, hopefully I can do the same thing for them if they need it.”

While both players may have been well known for playing other sports, they both say that golf is a lifetime game.

“I am not really sure what I will do for my career yet, but golf will always be there,” Murphy said. “It’s one of those things that you can do for as long as you want. You meet a lot of people on the golf course, and you have a lot of good experiences with family and friends. So it is definitely something that I will always be able to do.”

“Golf you can play until you are pretty old, so it is nice,” Zrinko said. “It is definitely a lifetime game. And it’s much better when you play well.”